Guide
How much life insurance do you need?
An interactive calculator and the thinking behind it: how many income-earning years matter, debt load, education budgeting, and what you already hold in coverage.
A straightforward approach is to total what your salary provided and subtract existing protection. Precision isn't essential—coverage comes in round dollar amounts, and the goal is enough to sustain your household through the most vulnerable years.
Coverage estimate
Calculation template: (annual income × years of need) + debts + education fund − current savings/coverage, then round to the nearest $5,000. This gives you a starting point, not professional guidance.
Why those inputs
Years of income. Most financial professionals reference a ten-to-twenty year span; what's right for you hinges on how long dependents would require ongoing money. Long Beach households with younger children frequently choose the higher end since childcare, housing, and school spending all rise at the same time.
Debts. For most households, a mortgage represents the largest obligation. Setting aside enough to pay it off in full means your family can choose their next move without urgent financial pressure.
Education. Set a rough amount per child in today's dollars. Budgeting it now eliminates the need to purchase additional coverage later.
What you already have. Count liquid savings you could tap and workplace group policies. Keep in mind group coverage typically ends when employment does, so many people count only part of it.
Once you know your target amount, the quote tool lets you see the cost across 10 to 30 year periods from different carriers. Many people choose a bit more than their calculation predicts since the added monthly cost is modest when you're young.